Doha: The 10th Ramadan Sports Festival, hosted by Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), has drawn not just athletes but also sports aficionados to the 12-day event in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle during this holy month.
AZF Director of Communication and Public Relations, Nasser Abdullah Al Hajri, earlier said that the Ramadan tournaments are to discover individuals who have a talent for particular sports and to provide the perfect environment for sporting activities within Aspire’s facilities.
Rochelle, who watched volleyball and futsal competitions on the opening day of the festival on Tuesday, said that bringing her children to the event is a way to encourage their interest in sports. “A sporting event like this is an excellent opportunity for me to demonstrate to my kids how much fun participating in sports can be. My son, who is seven years old, said he wanted to try football, and my daughter, who is nine, said she wanted to train in badminton.
The expatriate, who’s been living in Qatar for six years, added: “I admit that we don’t exercise very often, and playing sports is one approach to encourage movement and enhance motor abilities.”
Lowie from Australia said he’ll make sure to join the sports festival. “I’m aiming to join the football competition because back in my home country I used to play it from high-school to college.”
He went on to say that the festival is also a means of promoting sports not just on special occasions, but on a daily basis. “The benefit of participating in sports is that you learn in a fun and positive environment; it also improves your sportsmanship and keeps you active and attentive.”
The 12-day Aspire Ramadan Sports Festival is taking place from March 28 to April 8, daily from 9:30pm to 12am. It features eight exciting and enjoyable games.
Competitions are divided in men, women, and special needs categories. For men, competitions include football, and basketball; and for women – volleyball, futsal, basketball, and padel. For people with special needs, there will be a table tennis competition, held in cooperation with Qatar Paralympic Committee.
All of the tournaments are happening at the Aspire Zone except for the football competition for men which is being held at Al Bayt Stadium.
Moreover, Aspetar, a member of AZF, has made its clinical guideline on Ramadan fasting and exercise available for the public on its website.
